How to Bathe Your Pet Rabbit

This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

Rabbits are fastidious groomers and don't often need assistance in getting clean. In fact, submerging your rabbit in water is dangerous, since it can easily lead to hypothermia or shock. Instead of giving your rabbit a traditional bath, learn to spot clean your rabbit's fur, clean its scent glands, and take care of fleas, all without dipping your rabbit into water.

Brush the rabbit to remove bits of dirt. Many rabbits loved to be brushed, and it's a great way to help them keep their fur clean. Buy a brush made specifically for rabbit fur (often finer-toothed than brushes intended for dogs). Every few days, gently hold your rabbit while brushing its fur. Focus on areas that have bits of bedding or dirt. When you're finished, wash the brush and dry it.

Be sure to handle the rabbit very gently. Not all rabbits enjoy the experience of being brushed. If yours seems startled or upset by brushing, stop the process and try again later.

Long-haired rabbits require a little extra fur care. Keep your rabbit's fur trimmed to an inch or so so that it won't become tangled. This will help cut back on shedding and keep the fur clean.

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Spot clean the rabbit when necessary. If your rabbit hops into a mud puddle, you might want to help it get clean by doing a little spot cleaning. Luckily you can spot clean your rabbit without using water. This is highly advisable, since many rabbits go into shock when they get wet. Sprinkle some cornstarch over the dirty spot and use a fur comb to work out the dirt. Keep going until the fur is clean.

Even if your rabbit is completely covered in mud, it's better to use this dry cleaning method than to dip your rabbit in water. Working section by section, carefully break up the mud clumps, comb out the fur, and use cornstarch to work out the smaller bits of dirt.

If absolutely necessary, use water to clean small areas of fur. Dampen a washcloth with warm water and use it to moisten the fur; try not to let the water reach the rabbit's skin. When the patch of fur is clean, use a hair dryer on the coolest setting to gently blow the fur dry. Normal rabbit body temperature ranges from 101F – 103F. Because rabbit skin is very delicate, and rabbits are sensitive to heat, never use a blow dryer on a setting higher than “warm,” and constantly monitor the temperature of the air on the bunny’s skin by placing your hand in its path.

Use a mat splitter for clumped fur. If your rabbit has mats in its fur, the best tool for the job is a mat splitter. This breaks up the mat gently without harming the rabbit. Avoid using a scissors; rabbits are jumpy, and it would be easily to accidentally cut your rabbit while you work.[1]

Trim your rabbit's nails. This grooming task is necessary for rabbits that spend most of their time indoors. When rabbits don't have the chance to wear down their nails by digging around outside, the nails can grow long and sharp. Use a rabbit nail trimmer to take care of your rabbit's nails, or ask your veterinarian to do it for you at your next appointment.

Do not have your rabbit declawed. Rabbits are highly prone to infection, and declawing leaves their paws open to bacteria.[2]

Make sure the rabbit's living space is always kept clean and dry to promote good foot health.

Do not submerge the rabbit in water. It bears repeating that dousing a rabbit with water can cause it to get hypothermia or go into shock, both of which can be fatal. Some unique rabbits don't mind getting wet; a few rabbit owners have even been surprised that their beloved bunnies like to swim. However, if your rabbit has not exhibited an affinity for water, it's best not to risk getting it wet. Rabbits are very sensitive and even one water bath can cause permanent damage.[3]

Cleanse around the anus with a cotton ball dipped in water. Rabbits have scent glands around their anus, and the excretion can build up and begin to smell after awhile. To clean this area, simply dip a cotton ball or cotton swab into warm water. Swab the area to remove all traces of excretion. If you repeat this often enough, no further cleansing should be necessary.[4]

Your rabbit may grow nervous and jumpy while you clean this area. Have a partner help you by holding and stroking the rabbit while you cleanse the scent gland area.

Rabbits also have scent glands under their chins, but these do not produce a bad smell and do not need to be cleaned.

Use soap only if absolutely necessary. If the excretion has been left to build up for a long time, you may need more than water to clean it. Fill a small bowl with warm water and add a few drops of gentle baby shampoo or castile soap. Dip a cotton ball in the solution and gently cleanse around the rabbit's anus, taking care to wet only the area that needs to be cleaned. Repeat until the area no longer has traces of excretion.[5]

Make sure you don't leave any traces of soap on the rabbit. This can cause skin irritation.

Do not use cold water; make sure it is sufficiently warm. Otherwise the rabbit may get cold and go into shock.

Blow dry the fur on the lowest setting. It's not a good idea to let the rabbit's body air dry, since the longer the rabbit is wet, the higher the risk of a problem developing. Use a hair dryer on a warm, low setting (not the cool or hot setting) and make a few passes over the wet part of the rabbit's behind. Continue until the fur there is completely dry.

Realize that your rabbit may get scared very easily of the sound of a blow dryer. If this is the case, make sure you have a super absorbent towel on hand that is soft. Rub your rabbit until s/he is dry.

Use this method for cleansing dried urine (urine scald) as well. Some rabbits experience incontinence, the inability to hold their urine properly. Older rabbits or rabbits with an underlying medical problem commonly experience this issue. Dried urine can build up on the fur, causing a bad smell and leaving the rabbit uncomfortable. If this happens to your rabbit,

Clean the area using a cotton ball dipped into water.

Dry the area thoroughly with a hair dryer on a warm, low setting.

Again, your rabbit may get frightened. Use a super soft towel or blanket instead if necessary.

Take your rabbit to the vet to seek treatment for the underlying problem causing incontinence.

Keep fur trimmed short so the rabbit won't get damp. Long hair around the anus and underside of the rabbit can trap moisture close to the rabbit's body. Keeping the fur in these areas shaved or trimmed short helps the skin underneath dry faster and keeps the area clean. Ask your vet how to best maintain the fur on your particular breed of rabbit.[6]

Choose a flea solution formulated for rabbits. If you notice that your rabbit has fleas, talk to your vet about using a flea solution made for rabbits. Advantage, Program and Revolution are all designed specifically to get rid of fleas on rabbits without damaging their delicate skin or otherwise impacting their system.[7]

Do not use a solution made for cats or dogs, even if it says it is also safe for use on rabbits. It's better to use one of the formulas made just for rabbits.

Never submerge your rabbit in a flea dip of any kind, even if the packaging suggests it's safe to do so.

Apply the suggested dosage between the rabbit's shoulder blades. Follow the instructions from your vet or on the packaging to apply a small amount of the liquid solution to the area between your rabbit's shoulder blades. This is the safest spot to apply it since the rabbit can't reach back and scratch or lick it away.

Most flea solutions require multiple applications over the course of a month.

If you're not sure how much to apply, talk to your vet before taking action.

Use a flea comb to remove fleas and nits. If you prefer a natural solution, an old-fashioned flea comb does the job. In order to use this method, it's important to have a good relationship with your rabbit, since combing out fleas and nits can be quite time consuming. Have a partner hold your rabbit while you meticulously comb through its fur to pick out fleas and nits. Be sure to cover the rabbit's entire body.

Check the rabbit again after a few days. In most cases you'll need to repeat the process two or three times to account for new nits hatching. After a few weeks, the fleas and their nits should be gone.

In between cleanings, sanitize the flea comb by boiling it in water for five minutes.

Clean the rabbit's living area thoroughly. If you found fleas on your rabbit, they have probably infested its living space (and yours) as well. Sanitize the rabbit's cage and change the bedding several times during the treatment period. Boil the rabbit's dishes and toys for five minutes to get rid of all traces of fleas, and wash blankets in very hot water. If fleas have infested your carpeting, do the following:

Cover the carpet with a layer of diatomaceous earth or baking soda. Let it sit there for eight hours or overnight. This dries out the fleas' eggs.

Vacuum the powder and dispose of the vacuum bag.

Repeat the process every few days until all traces of fleas are gone.

When your rabbit is safely in its cage, you can also catch live fleas by plugging in nightlights close to the floor. Place a bowl of soapy water under each light, and the fleas will jump in. Remove the bowls before letting your rabbit out to play.

Do not use flea bombs or other external chemicals. Rabbits are quite sensitive to chemicals, and the heavy pesticides used in flea bombs are no exception. Avoid using any type of chemical solution around your rabbit. If you feel using a flea bomb or spray is the only way to get rid of the fleas, keep your rabbit in a safe location during the application process. Clean the room thoroughly with water and white vinegar to get rid of traces of the pesticides before reintroducing your rabbit to the area.[8]

Do not use on a rabbit unless it clearly states on the packaging that it is safe to do so. As you have noticed, rabbits like to groom and any dry shampoo residue left on his coat could be ingested. In addition, rabbits are a lot more sensitive to chemicals that other species, and even a product labelled as safe for a dog or cat, may not be safe for a rabbit.

No. By nature rabbits are very clean creatures as keeping their odor down is an important way of hiding from predators. It should not be necessary to bath or shower a rabbit unless they are heavily soiled, and usually this is around the rear end which makes spot bathing their bottom the ideal solution. The noise and spray from a shower is liable to scare a rabbit, so if washing is essential, bathing is preferred.

You can call its name with treats and food that it likes. If it comes to you give it a treat, and after a couple days of doing that, it will come to you knowing that it will be getting a treat. If this does not work, try using a treat up close to its nose for the rabbit to smell it and if it likes the smell and tries to eat it, call it with that treat. In a couple of days or weeks it will learn to come to you.

I have two mini lops, but one of them doesn't let me hold her, even though when she was younger she was the friendlier one. What should I do?

Community Answer

If they are bonded and were brought home at the same time, then this could just be a personality change. Sometimes bunnies don't like to be held once they get older, but that doesn't mean they love you any less, they just want all fours on the ground. If the other lop is new, she could just be too nervous/scared and feels out of sorts. Lastly, set aside time to bond with you and the bunny for about 30-45 minutes each day, but don't pick her up, you might just be back at square one with holding.

Try wrapping your bunny in a towel and hold him or her while wiping their feet with a damp wash cloth. If they are not very adverse to water, you could try to fill the tub up with a small amount of water, about 1/2 an inch, to let their feet rinse off and get clean.

I have two rabbits and one is pooping more than the other. Is something wrong with him?

Community Answer

They probably have different digestive systems. Males also poop more than females. If it persists or you are worried something could seriously be wrong, you could consult a veterinarian to seek professional medical advice.

How can I wash her and clip my bunny's nails if she absolutely hates to be held?

Community Answer

You would need to go to a vet or groomer, or you could wrap her in a towel and put her on her back with her face covered, being careful not to smother her. Not being able to see calms some rabbits and may make yours stay still.

Tips

If for some reason your rabbit is wet down to the skin, it is important to get them dry as quickly as you can to avoid hypothermia. You may use a blow dryer, but it must be kept on the lowest setting and moved back and forth so as not to concentrate the heat in any one area for too long. Check the heat being applied by putting your hand in the path of the airflow. Rabbits are also extremely sensitive to heat, so high heat for any prolonged period of time can cause heat stroke and death.

Warnings

Being handled is extremely stressful for most rabbits as they are prey animals. Try to get the grooming done as quickly as possible so they can get back to having all fours on the ground and feeling in control again.

About This Article

This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

To clean your rabbit, start by using a brush to rub dirt off its fur. If this proves insufficient, try applying corn starch to the dirty area before rubbing it with a fur comb. For an indoor rabbit, be sure to cut its nails regularly as it won't have the chance to wear them down by digging outside. You should also clean its scent glands by rubbing the area around the anus with a cotton swab dipped in warm water. Then, blow dry the fur rather than allowing it to air dry, because rabbits with wet fur are at greater risk of going into shock.

Reader Success Stories

EF

Estrella Forero

Apr 6

"I was about to prepare a bath for my rabbit. I decided to look up how to bathe a rabbit first. I'm so glad I did! I was prepared to submerge my rabbit in water, which is detrimental to its health. Thank you."..." more

A

Anonymous

Oct 5, 2017

"Had a lot of trouble with the rabbit sitting in his litter tray and getting very dirty, so did as suggested and put a layer of hay over his litter tray, seems to have done the trick."..." more

GM

Gaby Mcmurtrie

Dec 6, 2016

"This article really helped me understand my rabbit and how it would feel if I bathed it, cleaned it, etc. Thank you for helping me feel more confident with my rabbit. "..." more

GB

Gin B.

Jan 9, 2018

"It was very hard to find the scent gland in my bunny's fur, but in the end she ended up smelling way better. Would highly recommend doing it if your bunny smells bad."..." more

JF

Jenna Fox

Mar 6, 2017

"Clipping of the back paws, and also the glands were helpful. The soapy water trick I knew about. For first time rabbit owners you cover a lot of material. Thanks. :)"..." more

NT

Natasha Thumwood

May 4, 2016

"My rabbit has been feeling poorly and had not been grooming his back end very well, so learning how to spot clean rather than bathe was great. :)"..." more

A

Anonymous

Nov 2, 2016

"Reinforcing that rabbits should not be bathed in the traditional manner, and specifying how to clean them was very helpful!"..." more

A

Anonymous

Jun 26, 2016

"Knowing about putting my rabbits in water has really helped me and made it much more easy to clean them."

JB

Jasmyn Baney

May 5, 2016

"I liked that the article included the fact that rabbits can get severely ill when in water."

JB

Jarumy Baez

Jul 18, 2016

"This was very helpful for learning the right methods to clean my pet rabbit!"